Tag Archive: Goofs

Even though I have the DVD, for some reason I found myself watching, at least the latter half of 2001’s Donnie Darko on the Blockbuster channel (Dish). Nothing else was on at the time to suit my fancy. I also know that I’ll re-watch the film later on in it’s entirety sometime soon. It’s just a rule of mine. But re-watching even part of it transported me back to the the first time I seen it at the 2001 Austin Film Festival. I loved the film then, and I still love it now. I got the screenplay/book, big time fan. I still have hopes for the films writer-director, Richard Kelly, even if he did go on to later direct The Box and Southland Tales, that he will return to the brilliance seen in this film.

In any case, I got a little curious and wanted to brush up on my Darko trivia. Went to the IMDB. Surprised that I discovered that Darko had a bit part for Seth Rogen, his first onscreen role. Hung my head in shame that I didn’t know that or had simply forgotten. Hey, we’re all human. We all err, right?

Headed to the goofs section. My jaw hit the floor.

You gotta be kidding me.

Goof: Anachronisms: When Donnie leaves the theater to burn Jim Cunningham’s house down, we see that the films playing at the theater are The Evil Dead and The Last Temptaion of Christ. Although the film is set in 1988, The Last Temptaion of Christ wasn’t released till 1989

I had long since forgotten my old IMDB account so I promptly made a new one with my Facebook. I’m sorry. I feel it’s my civic duty. Even at three in the morning. How long has that been there?

We are only human, right?
And, lo, it’s also concerning that overrated piece of stuff the otherwise brilliant Scorcese did. Never thought in a million years I’d be the guy to set the record straight. Least the person can go back and use spell check. But here’s my correction, and I hope IMDB has the wisdom to let it stand-

When Donnie leaves the theater to burn Jim Cunningham’s house down, we see that the films playing at the theater are The Evil Dead and The Last Temptation of Christ.Some think the ‘Last Temptation Of Christ’ wasn’t released until 1989. The fact is the film was first given a limited release on August 12, 1988. It is possible that the film was re-released in early 1989 to drum up Oscar support. In addition, while the film would have been out of release theatrically by the events of ‘Darko’, the double bi ll is at a second run theater, or that ‘Evil Dead’ was booked for the Halloween season.
Type: Incorrectly regarded as goof

Even the IMDB lists the release of Last Temptation in August. On top of that, it’s The Last Temptation Of Christ. The protests that summer were even more remembered more than the movie itself. But it got me thinking about something. How many “goofs” people talk about on various films aren’t really goofs?
Your Friendly Big Brother hasn’t got the time to police all the pages, but I can’t help but post about this.

I don’t know why it hits me this way. It just ticked me off. I have nothing to do with the film other than being a film watcher. And this…”goof” ticked me off. Makes me think of all the rotten little things that nitwits on the net do. Like going into Spoilers R Us on Wikipedia. Seriously! But here comes another ballgame, calling out errors when there aren’t any. And all IMDB has to do is ONE QUICK FACT CHECK. But I’ll play optimist.

So maybe the writer of that entry also saw the film on Block, and said, “hey! This film takes place in 1988! Last Temptation was in 1989!” to which is equally as dull because it just takes ONE QUICK FACT CHECK to know for sure.

Maybe nobody cares. Life goes on.
But sorry whoever wrote that. I can’t let that slide.
Not as a Darko fan, not as a film fan, not as an aspiring writer-director. Just all the above.